Barrel-locking device for breakdown guns.



No. 796,119. ,PATENTED AUG. 1, 190.5. A. H. FOX.-

BARRBL LOCKING DEVICE FOR BREAKDOWN GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANSLEY H. FOX, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. H. FOX GUN COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

BARREL-LOCKING DEVICE FOR BREAKDOWN GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed December 29, 1904. Serial No. 238,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANSLEY H. Fox, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Barrel-Locking Devices for Breakdown Guns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to barrel-locking devices for breakdown guns; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention is specially designed for application to that class of firearms known as breech-loading breakdown guns, and provides an improved means for locking the barrels to the breech.

More specifically, my improvement comprehends the application of a coil-spring and follower for operating the spindle which actuates the locking-bolt, said spring and follower being located in the breech-frame between the spindle and the hinge of the barrels.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the breech portion of a gun embodying my invention and having a portion in section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig.3 is a perspective view of the movable portions of the locking device removed.

The breech frame A has the barrels B hinged to it at O and is provided with the upwardly-extending portion A,'containing the locking-bolt D, which in the particular illustration is of the well-known rotary construction, which consists of a cylindrical body rotating in a line substantially parallel to the axes of the bore of the barrels and provided with the locking part cl, adapted to be moved through the slot or aperture 6 in the rear projection of the barrels B. This rotary lockingbolt D is given a rotary reciprocatory motion by an arm G, journaled therein and hinged to a vertical rocking spindle E on a transverse axis H. The spindle E is arranged immediately at the rear of the breech-frame A A and is journaled therein at the upper end at e, and its upper end is provided with a lever F, adapted to be operated by hand for unlocking the barrels in the act of breaking down the gun. The lower end of the spindle E is provided with a stud J, which is journaled in an eye-bearing I and mounted with a nut K below the bearing for holding the spindle down in place. The eye-bearing I is provided with a screw-threaded shank, which is screwed into the rear wall of the breechframe.

To one side of the spindle the breech-frame A is furnished with a hole- N, opening rearwardly, and in this hole are arranged a coilspring O and a follower resting upon the spring and extending rearwardly somewhat from the rear wall of the breech-frame. The spindle E is provided on its side With an arm or eccentric portion L, which is received upon the end of the follower M. By these means the coil-spring O, acting through the follower, causes the'spindle to be rocked in a position to lock the gun.

The coil-spring O and follower M are located in the breech-frame between the spindle E and hinge O of the barrels, and consequently are well protected, takes up no room in the stock, and are strong, durable, and not liable to derangement. This feature of construction is a most important part of my invention.

It is obvious that a rotation of the spindle E by the lever F will, through the arm L, impart a forward motion to the follower M and produce a compression of the spring 0 in addition to the normal compression under whichthe spring is held. This compression of the spring O gives to it a resiliency which is utilized to return the spindle E and lever F to normal position and rotate the locking-bolt D and positively hold them in position when so thrown.-

By removing the nut K and the parts L and H the spindle E may be withdrawn through the top of the frame, the bearing 0 being larger than the body of the spindle. The nut K and threaded stud J enable the spindle to be held down in position and prevent looseness or rattling.

It is immaterial to my invention what character of locking-bolt be employed, as any other suitable type of bolt may be operated by the spindle in place of the rotary bolt, and while I prefer the construction shown and which I have found most excellent in practical use I do not wish to confine myself to the details, as these may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a breech-loading breakdown gun, the breech -frame having a hole opening rearwardly to one side of the center and at a distance above the bottom, combined with a cylindrical rotary locking-bolt arranged in the breech-frame in line with its center, an upright spindle of less height than the breech frame and journaled in a bearing between the hole or recess and the bottom of the breechframe and having a lateral arm extending sidewise in line with the hole or recess, movable connecting devices between the spindle and cylindrical locking-bolt whereby an oscillation of the spindle imparts a rotary movement to the bolt, and a coil-spring arranged within the hole or recess in the breech-frame intermediate of the spindle and hinge of the barrels and pressing upon the lateral arm of the spindle for rotating the spindle to normally throw the look into locking position.

2. In a breech-loading breakdown gun, the breech-frame having a hole or recess opening rearwardly to one side of the center and at a distance from the bottom, combined with a rotary cylindrical lock for the barrels arranged in the center of the breech-frame, a spindle independent of the look extending to the outside at the rear of the breech-frame for operating the lock provided with a lateral arm arranged to extend sidewise in line with the hole or recess, pivoted connections between the spindle and rotary lock whereby the oscillations of the spindle rotate the look, a follower resting against the arm and extending into the hole or recess in the breech-frame, and a coil-spring arranged within the hole or recess in the breech-frame and intermediate of the spindle and hinge of the barrels pressing against the follower for actuating the spindle at a point relatively near the lock to normally throw the said look into locking position.

3. In a breech-loading breakdown gun, a breech-frame, combined with a barrel-lock, a

spindle for actuating the look journaled at its upper end in the top of the breech-frame and provided at the bottom with a stud, an eyebearing secured to the rear of the breechframe and in which the stud is journaled, a nut screwed upon the lower end of the stud to hold the spindle in position and a spring to rotate the spindle for operating the barreloc l 4. In a breech-loading breakdown gun, a breech-frame, combined with a barrel-lock, a spindle for actuating the lock journaled at its upper end in the top of the breech-frame and provided at the bottom with a stud, an eyebearing secured to the rear of the breechirame and in which the stud is journaled, a nut screwed upon the lower end of the stud to hold the spindle in position and a coilspring arranged in the breech-frame to the front of the spindle and above the eye-bearing and connecting with the spindle to rotate the said spindle for operating the barrel-lock.

5. In a breechdoading breakdown gun, the combination of the breech-frame, two barrels hinged to the breech-frame, a rotary lockingbolt journaled in the breech-frame centrally between the barrels and rotatingon an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the bore of the barrels, a spindle having a handlever and journaled on the breech-frame at the rear of the bolt in bearings above the bottom of the breech-frame and having an arm extending sidewise, pivoted connections between the spindle and bolt for rotating the bolt by oscillating the spindle, and a spiral spring arranged to one side of the center of the breech-frame and spindle pressing rearwardly upon the side arm thereof and having its forward end extending into and directly supported by the breech-frame.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my band.

ANSLEY H. FOX.

Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, M. J. EYRE. 

